Combination chair and table

ABSTRACT

A table construction particularly designed for use with chairs having side arms, such as commonly used by invalids, the aged and hospital patients. The table includes a table top having a major portion with dimensions somewhat greater than the spacing between the side arms of the chair and a minor portion with dimensions such as to allow the same to be projected between the side arms of the chair to thereby locate such table top portion over the legs of the individual in the chair.

Unite States Patet 1 Thomas 1 Oct. H5, 1974 COMBINATION CHAIR AND TABLE[76] Inventor: Morton 1. Thomas, 125 South St Monroe, NY. 07055 221Filed: July 14,1972

[21] App]. No.: 272,050

[52] US. Cl 297/174, 108/43, 108/119 [51] Int. Cl A471) 39/00 [58] Fieldof Search 297/135, 148, 157, 170,

297/171, 174, 340, 136; l08/43,50, 161, 59, 64, 119, 120; 273/136 R, 136H, 136 Z [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 945,119 l/l910Conrard 297/153 X 1,510,998 10/1924 Marsh 273/136 Z 2,049,114 7/1936Gallamore 108/25 2,871,075 1/1959 Stone 108/119 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 1,969 O/l885 Great Britain 273/136 Z 603,085 4/1926 France108/94 Primary Examiner-James C. Mitchell Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Phi1ip G. Hilbert [57] ABSTRACT A table construction particularlydesigned for use with chairs having side arms, such as commonly used byinvalids, the aged and hospital patients. The table includes a table tophaving a major portion with dimensions somewhat greater than the spacingbetween the side arms of the chair and a minor portion with dimensionssuch as to allow the same to be projected between the side arms of thechair to thereby locate such table top portion over the legs of theindividual in the chair.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures mamas PAIEmmum 1 51974 SHEE? 10? 2 1COMBINATION CHAIR AND TABLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Small tables areconventionally used with wheel chairs and other chairs having side armsfor the aged, invalids and hospital patient for feeding the occupants ofsuch chairs. However, such known tables are of rectangular shape anddimensions greater then the spacing between the side arms of the chairs.Accordingly, in use, the inner edge of the table abuts the outer ends ofthe side arms of the chair since the table top and the side arms of thechair are substantially colevel.

With such disposition of the table relative to the chair, there is spaceof varying dimensions between the inner edge of the table top and theabdomen of the occupant of the chair. This leads to spillage of food andthe like, as well as locating the food, utensils and the like somewhatremotely from the occupant of the chair.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide an improved tableconstruction for use with chairs having side arms, wherein the table topthereof includes at least one portion of such dimensions as will allowthe same to be disposed between the side arms of the chair to therebylocate such table top portion in close proximity to the abdomen of theoccupant of the chair.

Another object of this invention is to provide a table construction foruse with wheel chairs having side arms, and including a table top havinga tongue portion projecting from a peripheral portion of the majorportion of the table top; such tongue portion being receivable betweenthe side arms of the chair.

A further object of this invention is to provide a table of thecharacter'described, which includes a central portion and a plurality oftongue portions projecting from respective portions of the centralportion, whereby a plurality of chairs having side arms may be locatedaround the periphery of the table top with the tongue portions thereofreceivable between the arms of the associated chairs.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in parthereinafter pointed out.

, DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showingthe combination of a wheel chair having side arms and a tableconstruction embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view showing the table construction in itscollapsed condition;

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the table topconstruction embodying the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, ldesignates a conventional wheel chair such as those used for invalids,the aged, and hospital patients generally. Such chair 10 comprises theusual side frames generally indicated at 11, back frame 12, side arms13, seat 14 and wheels 15.

A table construction T embodying the invention, is adapted to be usedwith chair 10, as when the occupant of chair 10 is to be fed. The tableT comprises a top 16 which is of rectangular shape with a forward edge17 and side edges 18. The spacing between the side edges 18 is somewhatgreater then the spacing between the side arms 13 of chair 10.

Table top 16 further includes a rear edge 19 from which projects atongue portion 20 of rectangular shape. Tongue portion 20 includes arear edge 21 and side edges 22 which have a spacing somewhat less thenthe spacing between the side arms 13 of chair l0. Tongue portion 20 issymmetrically related to table top It will be apparent that table T maybe located with respect to chair so as to dispose tongue portion betweenthe side arms of chair 10 and inwardly of the outer ends of said sidearms 13. Thus, table T presents a top portion closer to the abdomen ofthe occupant of the chair 10, thereby facilitating feeding such occuant.

Foldable leg means 23 is mounted on the underside of table top 16. Suchleg means 23 comprises a pair of inverted U shaped members 24, 25 whichare interpivoted as at 26. The bight portion 27 of member 24 is swivellymounted on the underside of table top portion 16 by brackets 28. Thebight portion 29 of member 25 is releasably gripped by clips 30 on theunderside of table top portion 16. The legs 31 of member 24 are longerthen the legs 32 of member 25; thereby locating the bottom ends of legs31 in alignment with tongue portion 20 of table top 16 to assurestability of table construction T Another embodiment of the novel tableconstruction is shown in FIGS. 4, 5. Here the table top generallyindicated at comprises a relatively large central portion 41 which is ofgenerally rectangular shape, with side edges 42 and end edges 43. Aseries of tongue portions integral with central portion 41 project fromedges 42, 43 thereof; as at 44, 45', 46 and 47. Such tongue portions44-47 are symmetrically related to edges 42, 43. Conventional leg meansgenerally indicated at 50, is mounted on the underside of table topportion 41. Such leg means may be fixed, as shown; or may be of thecollapsible type.

It will be apparent that with tongue portions 44-47 of a transversedimension somewhat less then the spacing between the side arms 13 ofchairs 10; the several chairs 10 may be brought into operative relationto table top 40 with the tongue portions 4447 disposed between side arms13 of the chairs. Thus, such tongue portions 44-47 may be brought closerto the abdomens of the occupants of chairs 10 to facilitate feeding andthe like.

It is understood that leg means of the table constructions embodyingtheinstant invention are adapted to locate the table tops thereofsubstantially colevel with the side arms 13 of the chairs 10.

I claim:

1. In combination, a chair having side arms with a predetermined lateralspacing therebetween, and a table for use with said chair, said tablecomprising a table top and leg means mounted on the underside of saidtable top, said table top comprising a first portion having a widthgreater then the spacing between said side arms and locatable adjacentand across the chair immediately forward of the outer ends of the sidearms, a second portion integral with said first portion and having awidth somewhat less then the spacing between said side arms locatablebetween the side arms of said chair and projecting inwardly of the outerends of said side arms for disposition adjacent the abdomen of the user.

2. The combination as in claim 1 wherein the second portion of saidtable top is symmetrically related to the first portion of said tabletop.

3. The combination as in claim 1 wherein said leg means comprises a pairof inverted, interpivoted U- shaped members secured to the first portionof the table top and arranged for movement to dispose the table top incollapsed relation to said U shaped members, each U-shaped membersincluding parallel leg portions, the parallel leg portions of one ofsaid U- shaped members being longer then the parallel leg portions ofthe other of said U-shaped members for location of the bottom ends ofthe longer leg portions in general alignment with the outer extent ofthe projecting second portion.

4. The combination as in claim 1 wherein each of said first and secondportions of the table top is of rectangular shape.

5. In combination, a table and a plurality of chairs for use with saidtable, each of said chairs having side arms at a predetermined spacing,said table comprising a central portion and a plurality of tongueportions respectively projecting from peripheral portions of saidcentral portion, each of said tongue portions having a width less thenthe spacing between the side arms of said chairs with the correspondingperipheral portion being of a width greater than the spacing between theside arms of the chair for location of each of said chairs relative tosaid table'with each peripheral portion located across a pair of chairside arms and the corresponding tongue portions of said table toplocated between the side arms of an associated chair for dispositionadjacent the abdomen of the user, and leg means mounted on the undersideof the central portion of said table top.

1. In combination, a chair having side arms with a predetermined lateralspacing therebetween, and a table for use with said chair, said tablecomprising a table top and leg means mounted on the underside of saidtable top, said table top comprising a first portion having a widthgreater then the spacing between said side arms and locatable adjacentand across the chair immediately forward of the outer ends of the sidearms, a second portion integral with said first portion and having awidth somewhat less then the spacing between said side arms locatablebetween the side arms of said chair and projecting inwardly of the outerends of said side arms for disposition adjacent the abdomen of the user.2. The combination as in claim 1 wherein the second portion of saidtable top is symmetrically related to the first portion of said tabletop.
 3. The combination as in claim 1 wherein said leg means comprises apair of inverted, interpivoted U-shaped members secured to the firstportion of the table top and arranged for movement to dispose the tabletop in collapsed relation to said U shaped members, each U-shapedmembers including parallel leg portions, the parallel leg portions ofone of said U-shaped members being longer then the parallel leg portionsof the other of said U-shaped members for location of the bottom ends ofthe longer leg portions in general alignment with the outer extent ofthe projecting second portion.
 4. The combination as in claim 1 whereineach of said first and second portions of the table top is ofrectangular shape.
 5. In combination, a table and a plurality of chairsfor use with said table, each of said chairs having side arms at apredetermined spacing, said table comprising a central portion and aplurality of tongue portions respectively projecting from peripheralportions of said central portion, each of said tongue portions having awidth less then the spacing between the side arms of said chairs withthe corresponding peripheral portion being of a width greater than thespacing between the side arms of the chair for location of each of saidchairs relative to said table with each peripheral portion locatedacross a pair of chair side arms and the corresponding tongue portionsof said table top located between the side arms of an associated chairfor disposition adjacent the abdomen of the user, and leg means mountedon the underside of the central portion of said table top.